Songs That Inspired Nicki Minaj

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Across
  1. 1. All-female collab Nicki said inspired the idea of Bang Bang
  2. 5. Nas track featuring Foxy Brown — helped mold her aggressive persona
  3. 9. Mobb Deep & Lil Kim remix Nicki shouted out for bar structure
  4. 11. Aaliyah’s track that Nicki has said deeply moved her
  5. 12. Tupac’s diss track — influenced Nicki’s battle-ready verses
  6. 15. TLC song that inspired Nicki’s relationship bars
  7. 17. Whitney song Nicki once said made her emotional growing up
  8. 18. Iconic Lil Kim song Nicki once quoted in early freestyles
  9. 22. Lil Kim’s debut album — a major influence on Nicki’s early style
  10. 23. Known for the colored wigs — influenced Nicki’s fashion+rap combo
  11. 25. Shaggy’s cheeky storytelling track that inspired Nicki’s narrative rap
  12. 28. Lil Kim & Junior M.A.F.I.A. collab that inspired Nicki’s glam rap edge
  13. 29. Mobb Deep classic — Queens anthem she called “essential”
Down
  1. 2. Foxy Brown & Jay-Z collab — early rap template for sexy boss energy
  2. 3. SWV song Nicki sampled on early unreleased freestyles
  3. 4. Lauryn Hill’s track she referenced as pure poetry
  4. 6. Another Lauryn Hill anthem that Nicki called “a blueprint”
  5. 7. Common’s lyrical masterpiece Nicki mentioned as inspiration
  6. 8. Salt-N-Pepa & En Vogue track she admired for women’s empowerment
  7. 10. Lil Kim track that showed Nicki boldness could sell
  8. 13. Missy Elliott song with an iconic visual Nicki references
  9. 14. N.O.R.E. track with a bold sound she admired
  10. 16. The Notorious B.I.G. classic that Nicki grew up listening to
  11. 18. Kelis ft. Too $hort — helped Nicki embrace her braggadocious side
  12. 19. Audio Two classic — inspired Nicki’s early flows
  13. 20. TLC anthem Nicki referenced as empowering
  14. 21. Warren G classic — helped shape Nicki’s taste in storytelling
  15. 24. Queen Latifah’s feminist anthem — Nicki has praised her legacy
  16. 26. Another Missy classic Nicki vibed with early on
  17. 27. Missy Elliott hit — inspired Nicki’s quirky delivery & visuals